Operations and Maintenance Engineer

Virginia Commercial Space; Wallops Island (VA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Spaceport Authority seeks an Operations and Maintenance Engineer to support the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at Wallops Island, VA. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

The role covers mechanical, electrical, HVAC and facility maintenance to keep systems operating safely and reliably across launch pads and facilities, emphasizing hands-on fieldwork and collaboration with internal teams.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or related field
• One year of direct, practical work experience with operations or planning, customer engagement, and program involvement.
• Valid driver's license is necessary when operating a vehicle on agency business.

Responsibilities

• Develops understanding of MARS systems and documents status.
• Develops and presents material to others using approved processes.
• Coordinates with internal groups to verify system integrity and safety.
• Monitors fieldwork on launch pad systems and coordinates with internal teams.
• Supports maintenance, alterations, and operational tasks within budget and schedule.
• Understands testing and maintenance procedures, and engineering work packages.
• Supports launch operations as field engineer or console operator.
• Develops data reviews after testing and presents findings to design.
• Creates fault tree analyses for high-level non-conformances and briefs design team.
• Presents test readiness and conducts reviews for new system activations.

Skills

Verbal and written communication

Organization and attention to detail

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Engineering or related field

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Operations and Maintenance Engineer

Full Time Wallops Island, VA, US

3 days ago Requisition ID: 1174

Salary Range: $67,602.00 To $88,206.00 Annually

Virginia Spaceport Authority is seeking a skilled and motivated O&M Engineer to support the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS). This is a full-time position with a competitive salary and benefits package.

SUMMARY

General Description: O&M Engineers support primary disciplines including Mechanical, Electrical, HVAC and Facility Maintenance across all Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport facilities, Launch Pads, and Airfield in order to maintain an operationally ready state.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Continuously develops an advanced understanding of MARS systems as a whole.
• Independently thinks and develops solutions for issues associated with engineered systems.
• Develops and maintains system constraint and status documentation using MARS approved processes and procedures. Prepares and presents associated material to others.
• Supports coordination with other internal groups to verify system integrity and ensure safety associated with operations of systems.
• Monitors and supports the performance of fieldwork on the launch pad systems, ensures coordination with other internal groups.
• Supports maintenance, alteration, and operational tasks safely, efficiently, and within allocated budget/schedule.
• Understands and supports system operating, testing, and maintenance procedures, engineering work packages for internal and external execution, including those for hazardous operations, trouble‑shooting plans, system performance metrics, and documents required by MARS operational directives.
• Supports launch operations as a field engineer, rover or console operator
• Develops data review after testing or performance operations and analyze for requirement violations. Present information to design department
• Develops “fault tree” analysis for high-level non conformances and presents material to design team for review
• Provides input to test plan development prior to new system activation
• Prepares test readiness review material and conducts meetings for new system activation (design) and pre-operational validation (mission) for systems
• Develops test documentation, coordinate special test equipment availability, and conduct operational validation or system validation testing for new designs

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

General Education

Major: Engineering or related field

Job-Related Experience: One year of direct, practical work experience with operations or planning, customer engagement, and program involvement. Military experience or other combination of training and experience may substitute for educational and experience requirements.

Certifications:

Licenses, etc.:Valid driver's license is necessary when operating a vehicle while on agency business.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Knowledge:

• Comprehensive understanding of engineering disciplines and industry practices as applied to the operation of technical facilities.
• Familiar with design, construction, activation, operation, and decommissioning of complex systems. Understand operational support functions such as logistics, procurement, contracts, equipment maintenance, quality assurance‑related process control systems, safety programs related to industrial operations, and environmental regulations as applied to support functions.

Skills:

• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Organization and attention to detail
• Proficient with Microsoft Office or related programs.

Abilities:

• Time management with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrates high professionalism in dealing with confidential and sensitive issues.
• Ability to work with employees at all levels of the organization
• Ability to provide the highest level of customer service to both internal and external customers
• Ability to communicate complex information to non‑technical individuals in a more accessible way.
• Leadership
• Problem Solving
• Project Management
• Responsibility
• Creativity
• Analytical Skills
• Critical Thinking

The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

In certain situations, employee may be asked to respond to emergencies, during work hours or outside of work hours, based on the needs of the Authority.

Physical Demands: The employee is regularly required to sit. use hands to manipulate, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell.

Mental/Sensory:

• Conveys information and ideas clearly, both orally and in written English.
• Anticipates, prevents, identifies, and solves problems in the workplace.
• Assimilates complex information. Listens to, comprehends, and clarifies concerns and issues raised by colleagues and clients.
• Emergency situations may present unpredictable scenarios, not anticipated in this job description

Emotional:

• Works well in stressful, high‑pressure work environment.
• Maintains composure and objectivity.
• Is respectful.
• Works with diverse personalities and levels.
• Exercises a high degree of discretion when handling confidential data, documents, correspondences, and other information.
• Handles multiple priorities and adapts to frequent change.

Work Environment: The employee is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of electrical shock. The employee is frequently exposed to risk of radiation and vibration. Work environment involves significant risks with exposure to potentially dangerous or extremely adverse conditions which require a range of safety and other precautions, e.g. fieldwork on launch pads, near high pressure and cryogenic systems, near extremely energetic materials.

The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions (non‑weather), working near moving mechanical parts, outdoor weather conditions. extreme cold (non‑weather) and extreme heat (non‑weather).

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Must be able to obtain and maintain eligibility for issuance of a NASA credential.

Must be able to pass a pre‑employment background check and drug test.